Project Files Stored on SharePoint

[Jane]

We are using MS Project Standard 2003 and have projects stored on multiple
SharePoint sites. We want to be able to link tasks from the various
schedules into one schedule.

If the projects are stored locally then it works fine. But it can't link
tasks across the SharePoint sites. (Can't link using the https://
connection.

Question: Do you know if we can do what we want if we use MS Project
Professional? Can you link projects across SharePoint sites with that
product? What about Project Server? Can users still update their own
project files on their SharePoint sites, and the roll them all up into one
project file on a project server?

As you can probably tell... I'm not a Project user. Thanks for help or
insight.

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Jane --

Although you can store an MPP project in a SharePoint site, as you have
discovered, you cannot set cross project links or create a master project
when the projects are stored in one or more SharePoint sites. You might
consider upgrading to Project Server 2007, which will allow you to do the
very things you want to do, plus loads more. For example, in Project Server
2007, your PMs store all of their projects in the Project Server database,
which is a SQL Server database. When your PMs publish a project, the
information becomes visible to all parties involved with the project in
Project Web Access, a Web-based interface that team members and executives
use. Your team members can see their assigned tasks in their My Tasks page,
and enter and submit progress against their tasks. Your PMs can review and
approve task progress, and the system automatically transfers the progress
information into the Microsoft Project plan. Your executives can view the
entire portfolio of projects to get an idea of what is going on with all of
the projects in your organization. Beyond this, all of the people involved
with the project can collaborate together in a Project Workspace (a
SharePoint site) to manage Risks, Issues, Documents, and Deliverables
associated with the project. And these features only scratch the surface of
the capabilities of Project Server 2007.

Before you implement Project Server 2007, I would strongly recommend you
enlist the aid of a Project Partner to assist you with the implementation.
Doing so will save you money and lots of wasted time. Hope this helps.

 

[Jane]

Thanks Dale!
I think the company does have project server. I'm trying to find that out
now. I wanted to confirm it would fit our needs if we did implement it.
--
Jane

Jane --

Although you can store an MPP project in a SharePoint site, as you have
discovered, you cannot set cross project links or create a master project
when the projects are stored in one or more SharePoint sites. You might
consider upgrading to Project Server 2007, which will allow you to do the
very things you want to do, plus loads more. For example, in Project Server
2007, your PMs store all of their projects in the Project Server database,
which is a SQL Server database. When your PMs publish a project, the
information becomes visible to all parties involved with the project in
Project Web Access, a Web-based interface that team members and executives
use. Your team members can see their assigned tasks in their My Tasks page,
and enter and submit progress against their tasks. Your PMs can review and
approve task progress, and the system automatically transfers the progress
information into the Microsoft Project plan. Your executives can view the
entire portfolio of projects to get an idea of what is going on with all of
the projects in your organization. Beyond this, all of the people involved
with the project can collaborate together in a Project Workspace (a
SharePoint site) to manage Risks, Issues, Documents, and Deliverables
associated with the project. And these features only scratch the surface of
the capabilities of Project Server 2007.

Before you implement Project Server 2007, I would strongly recommend you
enlist the aid of a Project Partner to assist you with the implementation.
Doing so will save you money and lots of wasted time. Hope this helps.

 

[Dale Howard [MVP]]

Jane --

You are more than welcome for the help, my friend!

Thanks Dale!
I think the company does have project server. I'm trying to find that out
now. I wanted to confirm it would fit our needs if we did implement it.